Hollow wall constructions and parts therefor



June 29, 1965 E. J. DE RIDDER 3,191,724

HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed May 3, 1961 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ERNST J. DeRlDDER ,1 H15 ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 E. J. DE RIDDER HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1961 INVEN TOR.

ERNST J. DeRlDDER BY HIS ATTORNEYS w wi June 29, 1965 E. J. DE RIDDER 3,191,724

HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR Filed May 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I20 FIG-l2 I27 FIG-l3 Il H9 H4 INVENTOR. ERNST J. De RIDDER ,4 HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,191,724 HOLLOW WALL CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR Ernst J. De Ridden, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,395 8 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to hollow wall constructions and to various parts for making such hollow wall constructions. 7

It is well known that a hollow wall construction can be made from a plurality of parts suitably fastened or interlocked together to provide opposed, parallel and spaced panel-like surfaces of the wall with suitable structural means interconnecting the panel-like surfaces together.

Such hollow wall constructions can be utilized for a wide variety of purposes, such as structural elements,

floors, partitions, walls and roofing in the building industry or the like.

It is generally desirable to form such hollow wall constructions from like parts in order to reduce the cost of fabricating and making the same.

In addition, it is generally desirable to form such parts from extrudable materials, such as aluminum-containing metallic materials and the like, whereby the parts can be inexpensively formed in a minimum of time and effort.

According to the teachings of this invention, it has been found that such hollow wall constructions can be formed from parts having unique configurations whereby the resulting wall constructions can be formed from parts suitably and simply mechanically interlocked together during a non-time consuming assembling operation without requiring special fastening means or expensive equipment.

In particular, each wall construction of this invention is formed from a plurality of parts suitably mechanically interlocked together, the parts each having a unique configuration as hereinafter described for permitting such interlocked relation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved hollow wall construction or the like having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved part for such a hollow Wall construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one of the wall sections of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, side view illustrating the method of interlocking together adjacent wall sections of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, side View illustrating two rows of interconnected wall sections of FIGURE 1 before the rows are assembled together to form a wall construction of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, side view illustrating the rows of wall sections of FIGURE 3 in assembled relation and forming one wallconstruction of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of another wal section of this invention. FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view of a core element of this invention. 7

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side view illus- "ice trating the method of interconnecting together adjacent wall sections of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates two rows of interconnected wall sections of FIG- URE 5 and one row of interconnected core elements of FIGURE 6'.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the rows of wall sections and core elements of FIGURE 8 in their fully assembled position and forming another wall construction of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a side view illustrating two other wall sections of this invention before the same are interlocked together.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates the wall sections thereof in their fully interlocked positions to form another wall constructions of this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates another pair of wall sections of this invention together with an end section before the sections are interconnected together.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and illustrates the sections of FIGURE 12 in their fully interlocked position to form another wall construction of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 4, an improved hollow wall construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 253 in FIGURE 4 and is formed from a plurality of identical wall sections 21, FIGURE 1, interlocked together in a manner hereinafter described to define a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel sides 22 and 23 of the wall construction 20.

While the wall sections 21 of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiments of the wall sections 21 illustrated in the drawings are formed from aluminum-containing metallic material or the like extruded into desired lengths by conventional extruding apparatus in a manner well known in the art. By extruding the wall sections 21, the

wall sections 21 can be formed in a relatively simple, effective and inexpensive manner. Also, by forming the wall sections 21 of aluminum-containing metallic material or the like, the wall sections 21 are relatively light in weight, durable, strong, 'long lasting and rustproof, whereby the resulting wall construction 24) is also light in weight, durable, strong, long lasting, and rustproof.

Each wall section 21 comprises an outer flat panel 24 having a pair of opposed end edges 25 and 26 and having at least one pair of flangesvor legs 27 and 28 extending outwardly from the inner surface of the panel 24 thereof, two such pairs of legs 27 and 28 being illustrated in the drawings for each wall section 21.

Each pair of legs 27 and 28 are joined to the panel 24 closely adjacent each other, with the legs 27 and 28 di verging away from'each other as they extend away from the panel 24. While the legs 27 and 28 can be disposed at any desired angle with respect to each other and to their respective panel 24, the legs 27 and 28 illustrated in the drawings are disposed at substantially a right angle relative to each other and at angles of approximately 45 relative to their respective panel 24.

Theouter end of each leg or flange 27 is hooked shaped and defines a projection or lip 31} disposed outwardly of a channel 31, the lip 30 and channel 31 facing toward an adjacent leg or flange 28, as illustrated in the drawings.

Each leg or flange 28 is provided with a turned outer end 32 which extends toward the panel 24 of the respective wall section 21 for a purpose hereinafter described, the turned end 32 being disposed at approximately a right angle relative to the main body of its respective leg 28.

An intermediate portion 33 of each leg 28 defines a hooked-shaped arrangement similar to the end 29 of a flange 27, the hooked-shaped portion 33 defining an outwardly extending projection or lip 34 disposed adjacent a channel 35. The lip 34 and channel 35 of each leg 23 faces toward an adjacent leg 27, in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

'7 The opposed end edges 25 and 26 of the panel 24 of each wall section 21 are respectively provided with complernentary interlocking continuations whereby adjacent wall sections 21 can be mechanically interlocked together.

In particular, a reversely curving flange 35 extends downwardly from the end edge 25 of each panel 24 and cooperates with the edge 25 to define an outwardly facing channel 37 therewith. The flange 36 is so constructed and arranged that the outer. arcuate portion 38 thereof has the convex side thereof facing outwardly from the end edge 25 of. the panel 24.

An arcuate'flange 39 extends outwardly from the end edge 25 of each panel 24 and has the concave side thereof facing outwardly from the edge 26. The outer end of the flange 39 is provided with a hooked-shaped lip or flange 43 which is utilized in a manner hereinafter described.

A lip or flange 41 extends outwardly from the end edge 25 of each panel 24 and is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to be complementarily received in a channel 37 of an adjacent wall section 21.

When it is desired to interconnect together adjacent wall sections 21 in such a manner that the panels 24 thereof will be disposed in a common plane, the adjacent wall sections 21 are interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. I

In particular, the adjacent wall sections 21a and 21b of FIGURE 2 are initially assembled together with the projection 41 of the wall section 21a being partially received in the channel 37 of the wall section 21b whereby the lip 40 of the flange 39 of the wall section 21a abuts the flange 38 of the wall section 21b and holds the wall section 211) in an angular position relative to the wall section 21a. Thereafter, the wall section 21b is rotated or pivoted downwardly to the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, whereby the end 42 of the flange 38, of the wall section 21b snaps past the lip 40 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to fully mechanically interlock together the wall sections 21a and 21b with the panels 24 thereof disposed in a common plane.

While the wall sections 21a and 21b are fully inter,- locked together in the above manner, it may be desired to utilize an adhesive between the mating surfaces of the flanges 38 and 39 thereof to not only further hold the wall sections 21a and 21b in their interlocked relation but to also provide a moisture-proof joint'therebetween.

When it' is desired to form the wall construction 20 from a plurality of wall sections 21, the wall sections 21 are interlocked together in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 2 to provide two rows 43 and 44-,FIGURE 3, of interlocked wall sections 21. The two rows 43 and 44 of interconnected wall sections 21 are then arranged in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3, whereby the legs 27 and 28 thereof face each other, and, thereafter, the rows 43 and 44 of wall sections 21 are moved toward each other in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3 to interconnect together the rows .43 and 44 of wallsections 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

In particular, as the rows 43 and 44 of wall sections 21 are moved toward each other, the longer legs 28 of the wall sections 21 are each received between a pair of legs 27 and 28 on the other row of wall sections 21 in such a manner that the hooked-shaped lip 34 thereof cams past the hooked-shaped lip 30 of a leg 27 of the other row of wall sections 21 and is snap-fitted into the channel 31 of the respective leg 27. Similarly, the lip 30 of each leg 27 cams past the lip 34 of a leg 28 on the other row of wall sections 21 and is snap-fitted into the channel 35 thereof. a

51 have the panels 53 thereof As the oppositely directed legs 27 and 28 of the two rows 43 and 44 of wall sections 21 are being interconnected together by the lips 34 and 30 thereof, the turned end 32 of each leg 28 is received in a pocket 45 defined between an adjacent pair of legs 27 and 28 on the other row of wall sections 21, whereby the turned end 32 abuts against the leg 28 of that pair of legs 27 and 28, as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the interconnected legs 27 and 28 of the rows 43 and 44 of wall sections 21 form V-shaped stitteners between the opposed sets of panels 24 of the interlocked wall sections 21 to not only interconnect the wall sections 21 together but to also add rigidity to the wall construction 20.

To further secure the rows 43 and 44 of wall sections 21 together, suitable adhesive may be applied to the mating. portions of the legs 27 and 28 which eventually overlap each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Therefore, it can be seen that the wall construction 20 is formed by a plurality of identical wall sections 21 interconnected together in a simple and rapid manner to form a rugged hollow wall construction 20 having the features previously set forth.

While the wall construction 20 is illustrated as being assembled from a pair of rows 43 and 44 of interconnected wall sections 21, it is to be understood that the wall construction 20 can be formed by interconnecting together the wall sections 21 in a serial manner, if desired.

Further, suitable end members may be secured to the end edges of the wall construction 20, if desired, in a manner similar to the end members of FIGURES 12 and 13.

Another hollow wall construction of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 9 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 50, the Wall construction 50 being formed from a pluralitly of wall sections 51, FIGURE 5, and core elements 52, FIGURE 6, in a manner hereinafter' described.

While the wall sections 51 and core elements 52 can be formed of any suitable'material and in any suitable manner, the embodiments of the wall sections 51 and core elements 52 illustrated in the drawings are formed from aluminum-containing metallic material extruded by a conventional extruding apparatus in a manner well known in the art.

As'illustrated in FIGURE 5, each wall section 51 comprises a flat outer panel 53 having a pair of opposed end edges 54 and 55 and. having at least one pair of legs or flanges 56 and 57 extending outwardly from the under surface of the panel 53 thereof, each of the wall sections 51 illustrated in the drawings having two pairs of legs 56 and 57 interconnected thereto.

Each leg 56 and 57 has a hooked-shaped outer end 58 defining a projection or lip 59 disposed adjacent a channel 60, the lip 59 and channel 60 of each leg 56 or 57 facing the lip 59 and channel 60 of its adjacent leg 56 or 5 Each pair of legs 56 and 57 are joined to the inner surface of the outer panel 53 of their respective wall section 51 .at points closely adjacent to each other and respectively diverge away from each other as they extend away from the panel 53 the, legs 56 and 57 defining a pocket 61 therebetween fora purpose hereinafter described.

While the legs 56 and 57 of each wall section 51 can be disposed at any desired angle with respect to each other and to their respective panel 53, the legs 56 and 57 illustrated in the drawings are disposed at substantially a right angle relative to each other and at angles of approximately 45 9 relative to their respective panel 53.

The wall sections 51 are adapted to be mechanically interconnected to each .other so that adjacent wall sections disposed in a common plane.

In particular, a flange or leg 62 has an oflfset end portion 63 interconnected to the inner surface of each panel 53 adjacent the end edge 54 thereof, whereby the offset port-ion 63 of the leg 62 defines an outwardly facing channel 64 at the end edge 54 of the panel 53. Each leg 62 has an in-turned outer end 65 disposed substantially parallel with its respective panel 53.

A flange or leg 66 is interconnected to the under surface of each panel 53 adjacent the end edge 55 thereof and has an out-turned end 67 provided with a lip 63 at the outer end thereof.

A projection or lip 69 extendsfrom the end edge 55 of each panel 53 and is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to be received in the channel 64 of an adjacent wall section 51. The lip or flange 69 cooperates With the flange 66 to define a channel 70 therewith adapted to complementary receive the flange 62 of an adjacent wall section 51 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 to permit interlocking of adjacent wall sections 51 together.

In particular, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, the adjacent wall sections 51a and 51b are adapted to be interlocked together by having the lip 69 of the wall section 51a partially received in the channel 64 of the wall section 51b, whereby the in-turned end 65 of the flange 62 of the wall section 51b engages the lip 68 of the flange 66 of the wall section 51a and causes the wall section 51b to be angularly disposed relative to the wall section 51a.

After the wall sections 51a and 51b have been partially assembled together in the manner illustrated in IGURE 7, the wall' section 51b is rotated or pivoted downwardly to the position illustrated in dotted lines, causing the end '71 of the in-turned end 65 of the flange 62 to snap past the lip 68 of the flange 66 and thereby mechanically interlock together the wall sections 51a and 51b in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, whereby the outer panels 53 of the Wall sections 51a and Eli) are disposed in a common plane.

If desired, suitable adhesive may be applied to the mating surfaces of the flanges 62 and 66 of the wall sections 511') and 51a to further secure together the wall sections 51a and 51b and also to provide a moisture-proof joint therebetween.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, each core element 52 comprises a longitudinally corrugated structure having oppositely directed, substantially V-shaped corrugations 72 and a pair of opposed ends 73 and 74. v

The outer surface of each of the apex portions of each of the corrugations 72 of the core element 52 is provided with a pair of lips or projections 75 adapted to cooperate with the 'lips 58 of a pair of legs 56 and 57 of a wall section 51 in a manner hereinafter described to provide an interlocking relation therewith.

The core element 52 is provided with a flange 76 at the end edge 74 thereof, the flange 76 being formed in the same manner as the flange 62 of the Wall section 51 previously described and having an oflset portion 77 defining a channel 78 adjacent the end edge 74 and an inturned end 79 disposed parallel to an adjacent leg 89 of the core element 52.

Similarly, a flange $1 is interconnected to the core element 52 adjacent the end edge 73 thereof and is formed in substantially the same manner as the flange 66 of the wall section 51 previously described and has an ,outturned end 82 provided with a lip 84 at the outer end thereof. A lip 35 extends from the end edge 73 and is adapted to be received in the channel 78 of an adjacent core element 52 in the manner previously described for the wall sections 51a and 51b to interlock together adjacent core elements 52 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

While the adjacent legs-80 of the core element 52 can be disposed at any desired angles relative to each other to conform to the angles formed between the legs 56 and 57 of the Wall sections 51, the legs 80 of the core element illustrated in .the drawings are disposed at approximately right angles relative to each other.

When it is desired to form the wall construction 50 of FIGURE 9 from a plurality of wall sections 51 of FIGURE 5 and core elements 52 of FIGURE 6, the wall sections 51 are interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 to form two rows 86 and 87 of interconnected wall sections 51 as illustrated in FIG- URE 8, the rows 86 and 87 of interconnected wall sections 51 being disposed with the flanges or legs 56 and 57 thereof facing each other.

A plurality of core elements 52 are serially interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 to provide a continuous core means 88, FIGURE 8.

Thereafter, both rows 36 and 87 of interlocked wall sections 51 are assembled to the core means 88 either serially or in unison by having the apex portions of the respectively facing corrugations 72 of the core means88 received in the pockets 61 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9, whereby the lips of the core means 88 cam past the lips 59 of the legs 56 and 57 and are respectively snap-fitted into the channels 60 of the legs 56 and 57 to interconnect the core means 88 to the rows 86 and 87 of interconnected wall sections 51.

If desired, suitable adhesive can be placed either on the apex portions of the corrugations 72 of the core means 38 or in the pockets 61 of the wall sections 51, or both, before the core means 83 is assembled to the interconnected wall sections -51 to cause the adhesive to further secure the core means 88 to the wall sections 51. The pockets 61 of the Wall sections 51 provide a convenient means for receiving such adhesive and the press fit relation of the corrugations 72 of the core means 88 therein will cause the adhesive to be sprayed uniformly over the snap-lock joint.

Therefore, it can be seen that the wall construction 50 can be formed from a plurality of Wall sections 51 and core elements 52 in such a manner that the resulting wall construction 56 has the opposed outer panel means 53 thereof suitably spaced from each other and reinforced by the legs 89 of the core means 88 to provide a relatively strong hollow wall assembly.

While the Wall construction 56 has heretofore been described as being assembled from rOWs of interconnected Wall sections, it is to be understood that the wall construction 56 can be formed'by serially interconnecting together the wall sections 51 and core elements 52 in any desired manner.

Another wall construction of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 11 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 96, the wall construction 90 being formed from a plurality of like Wall sections 91 illustrated in partially assembled relation in FIGURE 10.

Each wall section 91 can be formed in any suitable manner and in any suitable material, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each wall section 91 is formed by extruding aluminum-containing metallic material or the like in a conventional and simple manner.

Each wall section 91 comprises a pair of opposed parallel and offset panel means 92 and 93 interconnected together by an angularly disposed leg or flange 94.

Each panel. 92 and 93 of each wall section 91 has a pair of opposed ends 95 and 96, the end 96 being offset inwardly from the main plane of its respective panel 92 or 93 and defining a hook-receiving channel 97 at its juncture therewith. Each oifset end 96 of the panels 92 and 93 has a reversely turned flange 98 at the outer end thereof.

The leg 94 of each wall section 91 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 99 disposed closely adjacent the panel 93 thereof and cooperates with a hooked-shaped lip 10!) formed on the inner surface of the panel 93 to define a channel 101 therewith for a purpose hereinafter described.

Another leg or flange 162 is connected to each panel 92 reversely turned flange 193 being adapted to be received in the channel 191 of an adjacent wall section 91 in a manner hereinafter described.

The end 95 of each panel 92 and 93 of each wall section 91 has an inwardly projecting hooked-shaped lip 194 formed on the outer edge thereof and adapted to be received in a channel 97 of an adjacent wall section 91 in a manner hereinafter described.

The wall sections 91 are adapted to be assembled together' in the manner illustrated in FIGURE to form the wall construction of FIGURE 11 in a relatively simple and eflective manner.

In particular, the ends 95 of the panels 92 and 93 of the right-hand wall section 91 are adapted to be press fitted over the offset ends 96 of the respective panels 92 and 93 of the left-hand wall section 91 in a telescoping relation until the lips 104 are snap-fitted into the channels 97 of the offset ends 96 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11 to interlock adjacent sections 91 together. While the wall sections 91 are being telescoped together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10, the leg 192 of the right hand wall section 91 is being press-fitted into the channel 191 of the left-hand wall section 91 by having the end 105 of the reversely turned flange 103 thereof snap past the projection 100 of the left-hand wall section 91 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11.

Therefore, it can be seen that a plurality of Wall 'sections 91 can be serially interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 to form a strong hollow wall construction whereby the opposed panel means 92 and 93 thereof are disposed in spaced, parallel relation and are interconnected together by stiffening members provided by the legs 94 and 1112 of the Wall sections 91.

If desired, suitable adhesive can be applied to the mating surfaces of the interconnecting portions of the wall sections 91 to further secure the wall sections 91 together and provide moisture-proof joints therebetween.

Another wall construction of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 13 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 110, the wall construction 11!) being formed from a plurality of like Wall sections 111 and end sections 112 illustrated in FIGURE 12.

While the wall sections 111 and end sections 112 can be formed in any suitable manner and of any material, the embodiment of the wall sections 111 and end sec.- tions 112 illustrated in the drawings are formed of aluminum-containing metallic material or the like extruded by a conventional extruding apparatus in a manner well known in the art.

Each wall section 111 comprises a pair of outer, parallel and offset panels 113 and 114 interconnected together in spaced relation by a leg or flange 115 disposed substantially perpendicular thereto.

Each panel 113 and 114 of each Wall section 111 is provided with a pair of opposed ends 116 and 117, each end 117 being'offset inwardly from the plane of its respective panel 113 or 114 and having a reversely turned flange 118 at the outer end thereof. Each ofiset end 117 of the panel 113 or 114 defines a hook-receiving channel 119 at the juncture thereof with its respective panel .113 and 114, in the same manner as the channels 97 of the wall sections 91 previously described.

Each end 116 of the panel means 113 and 114 of each wall section 111 is provided with inwardly projecting hooked-shaped lip 121 adapted to be complementarily received in a channel 119 of an adjacent wall section 111 in a manner hereinafter described.

A pair of legs 121 are respectively interconnected to the inner surface of the panels 113 and 114at the juncture thereof with the leg 115 and respectively diverge away from the leg on opposite sides thereof. Each leg 121 is provided with a hooked-shaped lip or projection 122 at the outer end thereof which faces toward the projectionof an adjacent end 116 of the respective panel 113 or 114 to define a pocket 123 therewith.

Adjacent wall sections 111 are adapted to be mechanically interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13, whereby the end 116 of the panel 113 of the right-hand wall section 111 is adapted to overlap the offset end 117 of the panel 113 of the left-hand wall section 111. Similarly, the end 116 of the panel 114 of the left-hand wall section 111 is adapted to overlap the offset end 117 of the panel 114 of the right-hand wall section 111.

Telescoping movement of the wall sections 111 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 12 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 13 causes the projections 120 to cam over the offset ends 117 and be snap-fitted into the channels 119 as illustrated in FIGURE 13 to interconnect together the adjacent wall sections 111. As the wall sections 111 are being telescoped together in the above manner, the reversely turned flanges 118 of the wall sect-ions 111 have the ends 124 thereof snap-fitted over the projections 122 on the legs 121 as the flanges 118 are received in the pockets 123 previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that adjacent wall sections 111 can be rapidly assembled together from like parts in a minimum of time and effort.

If desired, suitable adhesive can be applied to the mating surfaces of adjacent wall sections 111 to further secure the wall sections in interlocking relation and also to provide moisture-proof joints therebetween.

The end section 112 of the wall construction 110 has a pair of opposed panels 125 and 126 respectively provided with end constructions similar to the end constructions of the left-hand ends of the wall sections 111 whereby the end section 112 can be interconnected to the right-hand end of an adjacent wall section 111.

In particular, the panel 126 of the end section 112 is provided with an offset end 127 defining a hook-receiving channel 128 therewith and having a reversely turned flange 129 at the outer end thereof, the offset end 127 and reversely turned flange 129 cooperating with the pocket 123 of the panel 114 of the adjacent wall section 111 to interconnect the same together in the manner previously described. Similarly, the panel 125 of the end section 112 has a hooked-shaped lip 130 formed at the outer end thereof adapted to be received in the channel 119 of the panel 113 of the adjacent wall section 111 and has a leg 131 provided with a projection or hooked-shaped lip 132 at the outer end thereof to cooperate with the panel 125 to define a pocket 133 therewith, the pocket 133 receiving the offset end 117 and reversely turned flange 118 of the panel 113 of the adjacent wall section 111 in a manner previously described to interlock the end section 112 to the adjacent section 111.

Thus, the opposed end edges of the wall construction 110 can be closed by the interlocking end sections 112, if desired.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides a plurality of hollow wall constructions each being formed from a relatively few basic parts in a simple and effective manner whereby the resulting wall construction is light in weight, durable, long lasting and substantially rustproof while having high structural strength.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A hollow wall comprising at least two wall sections respectively having outer panels respectively forming at least portions of the opposed sides of said wall, each panel having a pair of flanges extending inwardly therefrom, each pair [of flanges diverging away from each other as they extend away from their respective panel and having one flange thereof provided with a turned end extending toward its respective panel, said one flange of one of said wall sections having at least a portion thereof contiguous with the other flange of the other wall section and having the turned end thereof abutting said one flange of said other wall section whereby said one flange of said one wall section spaces said panels of said wall sections relative to each other.

2. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one flange of said one wall section has means interlocked with means on said other flange of said other wall section.

3. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall sections are identical and are offset relative to each other.

4. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall sections are metallic extrusions.

5. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said panels of said wall sections has end edges thereof interlocked to end edges of other wall sections forming said Wall.

6. A hollow wall comprising two opposed panel means respectively forming at least portions of the opposed sides of said wall, each panel means having a plurality of pairs of flanges extending inwardly therefrom, each pair of flanges diverging away from each other as they extend away from their respective panel means and having one flange thereof provided with a turned end extending toward its respective panel means, each said one flange of each panel means having at least a portion thereof contiguous with the other flange of a pair of flanges of the other panel means and having the turned end thereof abutting said one flange of said pair of flanges of the other panel means whereby said one flanges of said panel means spaced said panel means relative to each other.

7. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said one flanges has means interlocked with means on its respective other flange of the other panel means.

8. A hollow wall as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said panel means comprises a plurality of wall sections each having end edges thereof interlocked to end edges of adjacent Wall sections.

References listed by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,975,908 3/61 Huet 189-34 3,062,338 11/62 De Ridder 189-34 3,110,371 11/63 De Ridder 18934 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,528 5/59 Italy.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CORNELIUS D. ANGEL, Examiner. 

1. A HOLLOW WALL COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO WALL SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY HAVING OUTER PANELS RESPECTIVELY FORMING AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID WALL, EACH PANEL HAVING A PAIR OF FLANGES EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREFROM, EACH PAIR OF FLANGES DIVERGING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AS THEY EXTEND AWAY FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE PANEL AND HAVING ONE FLANGE THEREOF PROVIDED WITH A TURNED END EXTENDING TOWARD ITS RESPECTIVE PANEL, SAID ONE FLANGE OF 